"Opinion polls in a police state, in a country where fear is spreading rapidly and also Kremlin has tight control of media cannot be trusted. Putin was never part of any political debate. You cannot confront him publicly. And I think that the whole construction, it is like a Kremlin propaganda balloon will disappear if we have two weeks on public illusion"

-Gary Kasparov

Only Rocky Balboa can save us from this Russkie.

Why shouldn't they like him? He's done more to bring prosperity back to the country than any of the theives that plundered it and destroyed the Soviet Union before him.

See, this is why I never believe polls.

Did they find oil in Russia?

Can I has nuclear sushi?

/got nothing.

Because People in power are Stupid: Gary Kasparov

Kasparov's dreaming. Enough sources are involved that I believe the polls saying the Russians love Putin. The key isn't denying them; the key is figuring out WHY.

Didn't the soviet people love Stalin as well? Even when he was sending them to Siberia left and right (after all uncle Stalin would never do that so it must be due to some corrupt official eh doesn't know about...)?

Better question is how a nobody Putin just installed as his successor will win with 80% of the vote.

/The dead are coming back to life and voting United Russia!

Considering that Putin and Medvedev together now own controlling portion of most of Russia's oil and gas companies...

ConservativesBlow: Why shouldn't they like him? He's done more to bring prosperity back to the country than any of the theives that plundered it and destroyed the Soviet Union before him.

Because he is a tyrant and threatens neighboring countries over stupid farking shiat.

"I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue.
I was able to get a sense of his soul. "


-G.W. 43

susqubirds: Because he is a tyrant and threatens neighboring countries over stupid farking shiat.

He he he, seems that Americans and Russians don't differ that much in what they look for in a leader.

susqubirds: Because he is a tyrant and threatens neighboring countries over stupid farking shiat. Restored Russian to its' proper place amongst nations.

To the Russian people, that's what such actions indicate. Strength.

Juansmith: the key is figuring out WHY.

This is not a mystery. The Russians were kicked about pretty hard towards the end of communism and immediately afterwards. Their empire was just gone, they were shiat poor and nobody was taking them seriously.

That's all changed because of Putin's helmsmanship. He's not as popular as he'd have everyone believe and he's making the small middle class nervous, but generally the Russian people will put up with a lot to get what they want. He's also very cleverly revalidated a lot of nostalgia, and I think you have to be Russian to fully understand that.

Comrade438: To the Russian people, that's what such actions indicate. Strength.

Well, at least one of the n's was correct. Opps.

Would those be the coerced polls, or the ones they just made up?

/didn't rtfa
//they force them to vote
///that's why united russia is so popular
////new york times front page today
//slash

"My poll numbers, let me show you them"

Was that Putin or George W. Bush as harmful to democracy?

The censorship clowns are active today.....

ConservativesBlow: Why shouldn't they like him? He's done more to bring prosperity back to the country than any of the theives that plundered it and destroyed the Soviet Union before him.

Putin did nothing to strike oil or raise the price of gas.

susqubirds: ConservativesBlow: Why shouldn't they like him? He's done more to bring prosperity back to the country than any of the theives that plundered it and destroyed the Soviet Union before him.

Because he is a tyrant and threatens neighboring countries over stupid farking shiat.

Who Bush?!
/someone needs to photoshop Bush and Putin faces merging

Salacious Salad: Putin did nothing to strike oil or raise the price of gas.

That's not true at all. You could argue that his greatest error has been reinvesting the profits of the energy industry back into the energy industry, but you can't claim he hasn't manipulated reserves and markets to position Russia right back at the top table. You're going to get pwned if you try.

When you've had over a decade of pillaging and a government that was scared of organized crime, an old-school red Russian with balls of steel isn't such a bad idea. He may be a power-hungry expansionist who crushes dissent, but that doesn't mean he's a bad leader. He's certainly done a lot more for the Russian economy than Bush has for ours.

susqubirds: ConservativesBlow: Why shouldn't they like him? He's done more to bring prosperity back to the country than any of the theives that plundered it and destroyed the Soviet Union before him.

Because he is a tyrant and threatens neighboring countries over stupid farking shiat.

Shhh. Czar will hear you.

/Just noticed the troll's SN. Cute, but a noted lack of subtly.

Salacious Salad: ConservativesBlow: Why shouldn't they like him? He's done more to bring prosperity back to the country than any of the theives that plundered it and destroyed the Soviet Union before him.

Putin did nothing to strike oil or raise the price of gas.

They also have tonnes of Nickle and other heavy metals that we don't mine anymore due to tree huggersenviromeental regulations

Get Lost: Was that Putin or George W. Bush as harmful to democracy?

The censorship clowns are active today.....

Democracy is harmful to democracy. Eventually a skilled enough demagogue will come along who can convince the people that their freedoms can go to hell in exchange for glory. Hence Hitler and Putin.

That's why America is supposed to be a republic, but you'll never hear that from McCain, Hillary, or Obama.

ConservativesBlow: Why shouldn't they like him? He's done more to bring prosperity back to the country than any of the theives that plundered it and destroyed the Soviet Union before him.

Drive 50 miles outside of Moscow. Good luck finding electricity or this invention called "plumbing."

/been there
//rather be a caveman

I must break you.

Irony tag deported to gulag

What's the ironic part, the fact that he polled poorly in Western nations or the fact that he polled strongly in Russia?

The headline made me laugh.

drjekel_mrhyde: Salacious Salad: ConservativesBlow: Why shouldn't they like him? He's done more to bring prosperity back to the country than any of the theives that plundered it and destroyed the Soviet Union before him.

Putin did nothing to strike oil or raise the price of gas.

They also have tonnes of Nickle and other heavy metals that we don't mine anymore due to tree huggersenviromeental regulations

Actually we do not mine nickel since it is cheaper to buy from Canada. Treehuggers mean jack, money is the only thing that matters to our government.

psychic beacon is online...

overlord: Irony tag deported to gulag

What's the ironic part, the fact that he polled poorly in Western nations or the fact that he polled strongly in Russia?

Saddam polled strongly in Iraq and Castro still polls strongly in Cuba.

It's easy to poll strong when you have the guns.

Death by Misadventure: "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straight forward and trustworthy and we had a very good dialogue.
I was able to get a sense of his soul. "

When people have security and relative prosperity they will allow almost any type of government. Russia is ascendant because of $100/gallon oil, so the free fall that was taking place under Yeltsin has been staunched. People will choose a police state over chaos, and since they teetered close to the brink under the previous regime, they are more than happy to allow Putin to rule with a nouveau soviet hand.

If the people polled are anything like the Russians I know, then they support him just because he is Russian.

Honestly, I've never seen patriotism at the level they have it. They put the most patriotic Americans and French to shame. Hearing them talk about Russia, it sounds more like they're talking about a lover and soulmate than a country.

Gavino: Salacious Salad: Putin did nothing to strike oil or raise the price of gas.

That's not true at all. You could argue that his greatest error has been reinvesting the profits of the energy industry back into the energy industry, but you can't claim he hasn't manipulated reserves and markets to position Russia right back at the top table. You're going to get pwned if you try.

That has very little to do with the huge American and Chinese demand for oil. On the supply side of things he does manipulate the market some, but OPEC does this as well.

Rakishi Quote 2008-02-24 10:26:59 PM
susqubirds: Because he is a tyrant and threatens neighboring countries over stupid farking shiat.

He he he, seems that Americans and Russians don't differ that much in what they look for in a leader.


/You are so right!
//Putin and O'Bama, two of a kind.

Dick_Hertz: Rakishi Quote 2008-02-24 10:26:59 PM
susqubirds: Because he is a tyrant and threatens neighboring countries over stupid farking shiat.

He he he, seems that Americans and Russians don't differ that much in what they look for in a leader.


/You are so right!
//Putin and O'Bama, two of a kind.

Obama invaded some nation? when did he become commander in chief?

Gordon Bennett: If the people polled are anything like the Russians I know, then they support him just because he is Russian.

Honestly, I've never seen patriotism at the level they have it. They put the most patriotic Americans and French to shame. Hearing them talk about Russia, it sounds more like they're talking about a lover and soulmate than a country.

That is not patriotism that is just nationalism.

Patriotism: My nation has made mistakes and she is still the best because we try to correct them.

Nationalism: We are the best, kill the rest.

Uncle Karl: Dick_Hertz: Rakishi Quote 2008-02-24 10:26:59 PM
susqubirds: Because he is a tyrant and threatens neighboring countries over stupid farking shiat.

He he he, seems that Americans and Russians don't differ that much in what they look for in a leader.


/You are so right!
//Putin and O'Bama, two of a kind.

Obama invaded some nation? when did he become commander in chief?

I think the idea is that he's a demagogue.

Bush is more of a dictator

Nocens: overlord: Irony tag deported to gulag

What's the ironic part, the fact that he polled poorly in Western nations or the fact that he polled strongly in Russia?

Saddam polled strongly in Iraq and Castro still polls strongly in Cuba.

It's easy to poll strong when you have the guns.

....wait...I-irony? Are these...bad people now?
I've been told they were just swell, and save their peoples!!

YixilTesiphon: Uncle Karl: Dick_Hertz: Rakishi Quote 2008-02-24 10:26:59 PM
susqubirds: Because he is a tyrant and threatens neighboring countries over stupid farking shiat.

He he he, seems that Americans and Russians don't differ that much in what they look for in a leader.


/You are so right!
//Putin and O'Bama, two of a kind.

Obama invaded some nation? when did he become commander in chief?

I think the idea is that he's a demagogue.

I think our current president did more to appeal to fear and hatred to get elected, but he sure is not much of a speaker.

susqubirds: ConservativesBlow: Why shouldn't they like him? He's done more to bring prosperity back to the country than any of the theives that plundered it and destroyed the Soviet Union before him.

Because he is a tyrant and threatens neighboring countries over stupid farking shiat.

Putin tells the Russian people that there problems are being caused by outside people and traitors. That the cure for their insecurity is a 'temporary' removal of freedoms.

He and George do have a lot in common.

Uncle Karl: Nationalism: We are the best, kill the rest.

I'll take "Current US foreign policy" for $200, Alex.

Uncle Karl: drjekel_mrhyde: Salacious Salad: ConservativesBlow: Why shouldn't they like him? He's done more to bring prosperity back to the country than any of the theives that plundered it and destroyed the Soviet Union before him.

Putin did nothing to strike oil or raise the price of gas.

They also have tonnes of Nickle and other heavy metals that we don't mine anymore due to tree huggersenviromeental regulations

Actually we do not mine nickel since it is cheaper to buy from Canada. Treehuggers mean jack, money is the only thing that matters to our government.

Nickel mine being built in Michigan to open in 2009.

And when you say it's cheaper to buy from Canada, you should say China, since China own Canada's largest Nickel mine.

The way that Putin has helped stimulate the economy has been his crackdown on organized crime. Until he came along they were basically running the government. People aren't worried about opening businesses anymore. They welcome a police state because the last time they had a police state there was order, there was stability, and there was work and food, albeit no free market (without bribes). Why shouldn't they welcome a powerful leader that delivers on all his promises, that has the balls to speak up for his country and make threats that aren't so empty, and who is totally different from those before him in that he hasn't been blatently cleaning out the coffers?

We should have nuked their asses back in World War Three.

johnny_vegas: Uncle Karl: drjekel_mrhyde: Salacious Salad: ConservativesBlow: Why shouldn't they like him? He's done more to bring prosperity back to the country than any of the theives that plundered it and destroyed the Soviet Union before him.

Putin did nothing to strike oil or raise the price of gas.

They also have tonnes of Nickle and other heavy metals that we don't mine anymore due to tree huggersenviromeental regulations

Actually we do not mine nickel since it is cheaper to buy from Canada. Treehuggers mean jack, money is the only thing that matters to our government.

Nickel mine being built in Michigan to open in 2009.

And when you say it's cheaper to buy from Canada, you should say China, since China own Canada's largest Nickel mine.

The nickel is in the ground where? I thought so.
I hope that new mine is cleaner than the Canadian/Chinese one, sure there will be some damage, but that thing is just horrid.